Cloth-laying machine



J. W. WUNSCH;

CLOTH LAYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-20, l9l9.

1,325,224. Patented Dec. 16,1919.

R; I INVENTOR dosa /r Ml. Wd/7567/ sw rl ATTORNEY Unrrnn sT rEs PATENT ornion.

JOSEPH W. WUNSCH, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CLOTH-LAYING MACHINE.

Application filed February 20, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnrH W. WUNSCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Cloth-Laying Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an apparatus for laying cloth from book or roll forms in smooth continuous layers upon tables, generally cutting tables such as are used by manufacturers of garments. More particularly, my invention consists of a truck adapted to be rolled back and forth along a table, and clamps at each end of the table adapted to be automatically operated by the impact of said truck, and thus securely clamp the cloth. I

The principal object of my invention is to provide a reliable cloth piling machine of simpler construction and less cumbe u some than any existing type, composed of a minimum number of parts essential to its operation, so that it may be built at a low cost and worked with ease.

Another object of my invention is to provide, as part of the cloth-laying machine, a cloth-holding clamp of unique construction, its aw being raised by a rack automatically operated, through suitable mechanism, by impact .of the truck, and lowered by gravity.

A further object of my lnvention is to provide, as another part of the cloth-lay ng machine, a clutch which permits rotation in but one direction, permitting the truck, after it has by impact, raised the jaw of the clamp, to travel in the reverse direction without disturbing the security of the clamp. Other improvements of my machine will become apparent from the following description. Although I have illustrated my device applied to a particular form of machine, I desire not to limit its application in any way within the scope of the appended claims.

Figure l is a perspective of the complete device in position on a table, parts which are unnecessary to a clear understanding being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of the truck, showing the path of the cloth while the truck is traveling from left to right.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of an alternative Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

Serial No. 278,241.

mechanism by means of which the clamp is operated on impact of the truck.

In the following description, characters of reference refer to like-named parts on the drawings. 7

l is the top of a table upon which are mounted runners or tracks 2. 3 are the side frames of a truck having wheels adapted to run on saidtracks 2. The distance between the frames 3 is somewhat greater than the standard width of cloth rolls. In the upper ends of the central supports 4. integral with the frames 3, is pivoted a roller 5 adapted to guide the cloth as it leaves the roll or book resting on the platform 6, said platform being supported by said frames 3. Said platform 6 is shown composed of transverse sections which are readily removable, singly or, altogether, so that the operator may have access to any part of the machine. A guide roller 9 is pivotally mounted under the platform 6 in the side frames 3; guide rollers 7 are pivotally mounted at each end in .the extensions 8 of the frames 3. Said guide roller 9 is located centrally of the lengthwise dimension of the truck, the complete truck being bilaterally symmetrical about a vertical plane through the axis of the roller 9. On either side of said roller 9, at a short distance apart, are vertical grooves or slots 10 and 11, situated in the inner side each frame 3. *Said slots 10 and 11 eX- tend upwardly to about the level of said roller 9, and'downwardly not quite to the lower extremities of said frames, for a shoulder 12 is provided at the bottom of each slot.

13 is a rod of rectangular cross-section, having pin extremities ltwhich are inserted in said opposite slots 10, said pins sliding freely in said slots and thus supporting and guiding said transverse rod 13 in vertical motion. Another rod 15, similar in all respects to said rod 13, is also similarly inserted in said opposite slots 11 and is free to move in the same manner as said rod 13. A rack 16 is secured to each end of oneof said frames 3; for the sake of clearness only one such rack is illustrated. For the same reason only one clamping device, that at the right, is shown.

17 is the base of the clamping device, eX-

tending transversely across the table; Vertical supporting frames 18 and 19 are rigidly mounted on the ends of said base 17; the latter is provided with fiat horizontal extensions at each end, by means of which the clamp may be adjustably secured to the table by a suitable fastener, not shown. The frame 18 contains a vertical channel 22; the frame 19 contains a similar channel 23. A bracket 24 is slidably mounted in said channel 23, and a bracket 25 is slidably mounted in said channel 22. Said brackets 24 and 25 are alike save in one respect, that is, said bracket 24 is serrated or toothed on one side through a por tion of its length, thus making it a rack. A. transverse rod 26 connects and rigidly binds said brackets 24 and 25. Rigid to and extending from said rod 26, near its ends, are a pair of rods 27 whose ends are rigidly held by a flat bottomed connecting piece 28. The extremities 29 of said bent rods 27 have inclined upper surfaces, the function of which will become apparent later.

The rack 24 meshes with a gear 30, which is rigid to a shaft 31 supported in suitable bearings in the frames 18 and 19. A short distance beyond the outer plane of the gear 30 the shaft 31 is of smaller diameter. as shown at 32. The shoulder formed where the shaft 32 extends from the shaft 31, is serrated or toothed ratchet-like, as shown at 33. A second gear 34 is mounted loosely on said extension 32 and has a hub of equal diameter with said shaft 31, the face of said hub also having ratchet-like serrations or teeth which engage the serrations or teeth of said shoulder 33. The extremity of said extension 32 is threaded toreceive a capnut Before said cap-nut is screwed on, however, a helical spring 36 is slipped about said extension 32, the compression of said spring always maintaining the serrations of said hub in engagement with the serrations of said shoulder 33. These serrations are such that the gear 34 acts as a pawl or click to the shoulder 33 of the shaft 31, so that turning the same in a clockwise direction will cause said hub to grip said shoulder and turn said shaft 31 in the same direction; but on reversing the rotation of said gear 34, the latter will turn freely on its bearing 32 without turning the shaft 31, as the serrations of the hub and shoulder will then not grip each other, but those of the hub will slide over those of the shoulder 33 with little resistance. This arrangement is like the familiar ratchet and pawl, or, more nearly, like the one-way clutch on gasolene engine crank shafts for the purpose of starting the engine.

The functions of the various parts, and the operation of the complete device in laying cloth, will now be described. The path of the cloth may be traced with the aid of Fig. 2. The book or roll rests upon the platform 6. The cloth is first passed over the roller 5, thence around roller 7 at either end of the truck; thence it continues over the central roller 9, thence down to and under the guide rod 15. During motion from left to right the guide rod 13 is idle, while during the reverse motion the rod 15 is idle.

Now let us assume that the cloth has been guided around the rollers and rod 15, and secured at the left end of the table. The truck is then moved to the right, the cloth unwinding from the book or roll. As the truck advances to the right, the front rod 13, which is now idle, strikes the tips of the inclined planes of the extensions 29 of the clamp jaw rods 27. Since the latter are resting on the table by virtue of their weight, the lowermost points of the inclined planes are flush with the table.

herefore, since the idle rod 13 is free to rise in the slots 10, it does so rise on actuation by the cam-like inclined planes 29. When the idle rod 13 has been raised, the continued motion of the truck to the right brings the teeth 38 of the rack 16 into engagement with the gear 34. Since the spring 36 keeps the hub of said gear 34 in constant engagement with the shoulder 33 of the shaft 31, the rotation of gear 34 by rack 16 will cause rotation through an equal angle of the shaft 31 and gear 30. Since the teeth of gear 30 are meshed with the teeth of rack 24, the clockwise rotation of said gear 30 will raise said rack and bracket 24, thus likewise raising the jaws 27 of the clamp. Therefore the guide rod 15, carrying the cloth, will pass under said jaws 27, the cloth being folded back by said jaws. When the cloth has thus been folded, and the guide 15 advanced a short distance under the jaws 27, the continued motion of the truck to the right will cause the rack 16 to disengage from the gear 34, as the number of teeth 38 on said rack 16 is limited. Immediately on this disengagement the jaws 27 will, because of their weight, fall upon the fold in the cloth, clamping it securely against the table. Then the motion of the truck is reversed, the teeth 38 of the rack 16 again engaging, for a brief time, the teeth of gear 34. However, since gear 34 is free to turn loosely on its bearing 32, because of the one-way clutch, the shaft 31, and hence the clamp, will not be disturbed.

Since there is in practice a second clamp like the one shown, at the other end of the table, the continued reciprocating motion of the truck will cause the cloth to pile up in continuous layers, securely clamped, on the table.

In order to obtain quick and certain action of the clamps, the weight of the truck should be substantial, so that with a low speed it will have a relatively high momentum, since the clamps are actuated by this force transmitted through the rack 16 and the gear 34. The guides 13 and 15, by sliding over the upper layer of the cloth, keep the same always smooth, while the quick descent of the jaws of the clamps always assures a firm hold upon the fold of cloth.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative clamp actuating mechanism. In place of the gear 34 mounted loosely on the shaft extension 32, a lever 39 is so mounted, having a hub similar to that of gear 34 of Fig. 1, which, together with the shoulder 33, of the shaft 31, forms the one-way clutch. on the end of said lever 39 is an inclined plane 40, which protrudes backward toward the table so as to provide an overhanging runner or guide having both its upper and lower surfaces smooth to permit a roller to pass over them. In place of the rack 16 of Fig. 1 a clownwardly-curved bracket 41 is provided, secured to the frame 3; said bracket has a vertical slot 42 cut in its lower portion. Within said slot is a roller 43 similar in constructon to a trolley wheel. A light helical spring 44 rests upon the base of the slot 42, supporting the axle of said roller onits upper end, against the upper end of said slot 42. The slot extends upward a distance sufficient to maintain the bottom of the roller 43 on a level with the foot of the upper inclined plane of the lever, or cam, 40.

\Vhen the truck advances to the right, using the mechanism of Fig. 3, the roller 43 strikes the upper plane of the cam 40; since the roller is prevented by the upper shoulder of the slot from rising, the weight of the truck, transmitted through said roller 43, presses down said cam 40, turning the lever 39 and causing the gear 30 to lift the rack 24 and hence the jaws of the clamp. As the truck advances farther, the roller passes over the upper plane of the cam 40, permitting the lever 39 to rise on the descent of the clamp jaws and the rack 24. The truck then travels to the left, the roller 43 striking the lower surface of the cam 4.0. Since, however, the roller is free to move downward in its slot 42 against the slight compression of the supporting spring 44, the lever 39 is not caused to turn. Having passed under the end of the lower plane of the cam 40, the roller is forced again, by its spring 44, to its former position at the upper end of the slot 42.

It is apparent from the foregoing description of my machine that a great number of layers of cloth may be piled on the table without the necessity of any adjustment whatever on the part of the operator, so the machine may be operated by any unskilled person.

I claim:

1. A cloth laying machine comprising a truck movable along the surface of a table, means on said truck for guiding said cloth, a substantially horizontal rack carried by said truck, a clamping device having a jaw secured to a rack slidable in a substantially vertical groove, a shaft and a gear thereon to raise said substantially vertical rack by rotation of said gear, a pinion on said shaft, said rack adapted to mesh with said pinion to rotate the same on impact of said truck.

2. A cloth-laying machine having a truck movable along the surface of a table, means on said truck for guiding the cloth, a substantially horizontal rack carried by said truck, a clamping device comprising a frame and a shaft supported by said frame, a gear mounted on said shaft, a substantially vertical rack meshing with said gear, a jaw fastened to said rack, a second gear loosely mounted on saidshaft, a one-way clutch interposed between said first-named and said second-named gear, said second named gear adapted to mesh with said substantially horizontal rack and to be rotated'by the same.

3. A cloth laying machine having a truck movable along the surface of a table, means on said truck for guiding said cloth, a substantially horizontal rack carried by said truck, a clamping device comprising a frame and a shaft supported thereon, a gear mounted on said shaft, a substantially vertical rack meshing with said gear, a jaw secured to said rack, a second gear mounted on said shaft, said SCOl1d-11tHl6d gear adapted to mesh with said substantially horizontal rack and to be rotated by the same.

4. A cloth laying machine comprising a truck movable along the surface of a table, said truck having means for guiding the cloth, clamping means consisting of a shaft having a gear, a rack having a jaw secured thereto, said rack meshing with said gear, and means for rotating said gear on impact of said truck, said rack being raised thereby.

5. A cloth laying machine comprising a truck movable along the surface of a table, and clamping means onsaid table comprising a jaw secured to a rack slidable 'in a substantially vertical groove, and means to raise said rack and jaw, including a gear in mesh with said rack, on impact of said truck.

JOSEPH w. wUNscH. 

